Human trafficking is a growing global issue, and according to the United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking, it has reached epidemic proportions over the last decade. Edwardsville Police Department lieutenant Charles Kohlberg said it’s difficult for government agencies and advocacy organizations to track the number of victims. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the most common cases of missing children are instances involving runaways. Kohlberg said instances are often surrounded by poor home environments or drug use leading up to their disappearance.
“The children we see go missing are not always, but quite often, involved with other illicit acts such as drug abuse or other criminal activity. Many of the children are runaways who lack role models or any means,” Kohlberg said. According to Kohlberg, once children are abducted, drugs are often used to desensitize them to their environment, allowing traffickers to further exploit them.